Head-to-head reliability
Lexus RZ vs FORD F 150
How the Lexus RZ and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Lexus RZ vs FORD F 150: The RZ has 43 complaints over 4 years (about 11 per year) and 7 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (about 1,162 per year) and 151 recalls. The RZ reports no injuries or deaths; the F-150 reports 297 injuries and 1 death. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus RZ or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus RZ
The Lexus RZ is an electric SUV with a relatively low complaint volume: 43 complaints over four years, about 11 per year, and 7 recalls. Most owner reports center on the electrical system, especially winter battery range loss and sudden propulsion loss at 0% charge, plus some door latch and HVAC issues. There are no reported injuries or deaths in this data, but the cold-weather and shutdown complaints suggest buyers should plan for charging and range limitations.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume: 11,621 complaints over ten years, averaging about 1,162 per year, and 151 recalls. The dominant pattern is power train trouble, including transmission limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures, along with electrical glitches and rear-window defroster fires. This data includes 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death, so a used F-150 deserves a thorough mechanical inspection.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus RZ | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 43 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 10.8 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Lexus RZ
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM29
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
- 03LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES6
- 04POWER TRAIN2
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
Owners of 2024 RZ 300e report severe battery range loss in cold weather, requiring excessive charging. This matters because winter driving range may be much shorter than expected, affecting daily use.
Some 2025 RZ 300e owners describe sudden propulsion loss when the battery reaches 0%, with only a single soft alert and no escalating warnings. That means a driver may have little time to react before the vehicle loses power.
A 2026 RZ 450E owner reported the driver’s side door failed to respond when trying to start the vehicle, with no warning light. A door that will not open or latch properly can be a safety and security concern.
A 2023 RZ 450e owner reported an unresolved HVAC failure affecting cabin heating, and another 2023 RZ 450 failed to shift out of park. These issues can leave the vehicle out of service or hard to drive, especially in cold weather.
“I am reporting a safety concern involving a 2024 Lexus RZ300e related to battery range performance and charging requirements in cold weather. In real-world winter conditions in Massachusetts, the vehicle experiences severe range loss, requiring excessive and…”
“I am reporting a safety concern involving a 2024 Lexus RZ300e related to battery range performance and charging requirements in cold weather. In real-world winter conditions in Massachusetts, the vehicle experiences severe range loss, requiring excessive and…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners of 2017 F-150 V8 models report recurring transmission problems, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures. These can cause sudden loss of power or rough shifting, and some owners say the issue nearly caused a collision.
The same lead frame issue appears in electrical complaints, and one owner described an Output Speed Sensor failure that triggered highway limp mode. Electrical faults like these can strand a driver or force expensive repairs.
One owner reported the rear window defroster shorted and the back window exploded outward shortly after use. A shattered rear window while driving is a serious safety hazard.
Exterior lighting is a top complaint area with 1,224 reports, though the sample text does not detail specific failures. Buyers should still check all lights and related wiring, as lighting problems can affect visibility and safety.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Lexus RZ — 7 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2025 bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra vehicles. During certain HVAC system faults, such as electrical compressor failure, the defroster and defogger system may become inoperative.
The risk: An inoperative defroster and defogger system can decrease the driver's visibility under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the HVAC control ECU software, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect the electrical compressor, and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2025. Owners may conta…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or d…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's nu…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Toyota BZ, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra battery electric vehicles. The electronic control unit (ECU) that controls the high voltage battery may experience a fault, resulting in a loss of drive power.
The risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the battery ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 17, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26LA07 and 26TA11. S…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2025 bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra vehicles. During certain HVAC system faults, such as electrical compressor failure, the defroster and defogger system may become inoperative.
The risk: An inoperative defroster and defogger system can decrease the driver's visibility under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the HVAC control ECU software, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect the electrical compressor, and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2025. Owners may conta…
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
Lexus RZ or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Lexus RZ has far fewer issues per year, about 11 complaints annually versus about 1,162 for the Ford F-150. In practice, that means a used RZ is likely to generate fewer owner-reported problems, while a used F-150 carries a much higher chance of transmission, electrical, and other repair visits.
Key differences
- The Lexus RZ averages about 11 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages about 1,162 per year, a huge gap in reported problem frequency.
- Lexus RZ complaints focus on electric range loss in cold weather and sudden propulsion loss at 0% charge, while Ford F-150 complaints focus on transmission limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures.
- The Ford F-150 data includes 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death, while the Lexus RZ data shows 3 crash-related reports and no injuries or deaths.
- The Ford F-150 has 151 recalls over ten years, compared with 7 recalls for the Lexus RZ over four years, meaning the truck has a much longer and broader recall history.
- Check the battery health and real-world winter range on any used RZ, especially 2024 RZ 300e models, because owners report severe cold-weather range loss.
- Test the driver’s side door latch and lock operation on 2026 RZ 450E models, since one owner reported the door failed to respond when starting the vehicle.
- Scan for transmission trouble codes and test drive for limp mode, stuck gears, or harsh shifting on 2017 F-150 V8 models with the 6-speed automatic.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and surrounding glass for signs of overheating or damage, as one owner reported the rear window exploded after defroster use.
Before you buy
- Ask for a full battery health report and confirm cold-weather range expectations before buying a used Lexus RZ.
- On a used Ford F-150, request a transmission service history and have a mechanic check for lead frame or output speed sensor issues.
- Verify that all open recalls have been performed on either vehicle by checking the VIN with a dealer or NHTSA.
- Test every door latch, lock, and window function, including the rear defroster on the F-150 and door operation on the RZ.
- Take a longer test drive that includes highway speeds and, for the RZ, a charging stop to confirm real-world range and charging behavior.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Lexus RZ | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18 | 35 |
| 2025 | 4 | 345 |
| 2024 | 10 | 638 |
| 2023 | 11 | 1527 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Lexus RZ or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus RZ vs FORD F 150
- Lexus RZ total complaints
- 43
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Lexus RZ total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Lexus RZ avg complaints/year
- 10.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Lexus RZ
- Lexus RZ top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN